New Marriott Chief Sees Weak Europe

Arne Sorenson, the man who will take over as Marriott's chief executive in March, spoke to the WSJ's Gerard Baker during his first visit to Davos.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... I ... Jerry thank the Deputy Chief history now ... I'm hearing that last week's ice arms ... the president and chief operating officer merits ... of bought seem to be not choosing the chief executives to try to match the congratulations all men are welcome and set ... off a stunning double something you tell us ... what you love what you what he found what you love the most prestigious King County taught us and where I it's a fascinating chaos ... it seems that every ... but here somebody people here ... that are ... out but the interest of our business and it was one of the world so it's a mix of conversations where are the customers' our hotel owners ... folks for whom we are there because it was ... all that's happening ... probably above that is a conversation about the economy and the challenges that were off-base and in our businesses ... and occasionally an intersection between ... the business discussion in the ... policy discussions ... what the fatness of business leaders come if you take the temperature is the global economy to some extent what's your sense of ... how the CIA has been a lot of concern about Europe oversee recently is an important body was business ... as you see what you what you learned this week the kids you since it with the with a clever on a new business is having a ... I think what I've heard here has been a lot of ... what we have been thinking for the last few months at least ... and that is farewell optimism about the United States ... its considerable amount of optimism that long to markets in Asia ... in some creepy an anxiety about your ... I'd I think filling in of the VFF based around people inside that Europe is hard ... because lot of conversations that happen here are ... the people of the code for the European experts on the Merkel obviously spoke ... it's hard for somebody like me to interpret exactly what ... it what what what what she said ... but it sounds like people are somewhat optimistic that along ... with ... the stalled and the wheels will come off ... but in the near term tremendous anxiety you feel business the hospitality ... mostly business in Europe ... has been told and it's good going for it you CP music diminishing palm of ... your mobile business will not they will grow as fast as it ... so when you look over the long term the percentage of profits to come to us from Asia will grow up ... I think Europe will grow like United States even if the economy is slow ... because the outcome Asian travelers can be coming to places like Paris London and Rome ... and these great European destinations ... and they at least in those big markets will fill in some of what is probably lost in Europe because of weaker ... well sleep ... when you ... when you've made policy concerns only the symbol of the Commons about the travel is a big driver of ... global economic activity ... it's not that easy to travel to United States Roddy Uganda how much how much needs to be done to improve travel ... to the ability to Sutra doubt that that is the biggest policy question that we are concerned about ... is how do we get ... the United States and other countries in Europe the unites States wanted to be asked ... to open its arms and say to the rest the world you're welcome to come ... today is we to argue that it's ... it's it's ... one of five concerts in China as an example ... of an in person interview and then wait ninety days to see if you get it ... many people don't even start the process because they think they will give it more because it's too time consuming or because they can't afford to take a trip ... your task was to take it for ... I'm so we want very much to see the United States government open up which in turn requires the governments of where the travelers are coming ... to have reciprocal pizza house is like ... the Mets and abroad I think international questions were asked the European see the ... opportunity there and of course for hotels in Euro two